Front-drive-automobile construction.



G. A. SODEN & J. W. POWELSON FRONT DRIVE AUTOMOBILE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29, 1914.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

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FRONT DRIVE AUTOMUBIL CONSTRUCTION.

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1 ,1 14,8 1 5. Patented 0015.27, 1914.

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FRONT DRIVE AUTOMOBILE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JN. 29, 1914. 1,1 14,81 5. Patented oeuf/,1914.

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@Q0 e, a 07112, lll. Pawelson UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. SODEN, OF EAST ORANGE, AND JOHN W. POVIELSON,

0F NEWARK, NEW

JERSEY.

FRONT-DRIVE-AUTOMOBILE CONSTRUCTION.

'Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, GEORGE A. SODEN and JouN W. PowELsoN, citizens ofthe United States, residing at East Orange and Newark, respectively, inthe county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Front- Drive-Automobile Construction, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in front drive automobileconstruction or tractors wherein the driving power from the motor istransmitted through the front wheels in a manner likewise enabling themto be employed for steering of the vehicle in the usual manner byturning of the wheels about a vertical pivot.

As hereinafter disclosed important features of the present inventionconsist in an improved organization and construction whereby the drivingforces are applied in a most direct manner without dissipation of powerand the production of destructive lateral stresses; in an improvedarrangement and form of driving wheel of particularly strongconstruction wherein certain of the parts have a. juxtaposed relation toinsure against displacement and consequent damage therefrom.

A further important feature resides in provision for retaining of thelubricant within the wheel and the specific means employed to that end.'This latter feature is particularly desirable as applied to the drivingwheels of tire-Steamers wherein the herein disclosed type of drive-wheelis largely used. Owing to the long periods during which the Steamersstand idle in the fire-houses this leakage of the oil is a considerableand troublesome factor.

These 'and other features of our invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which the reference numerals of this description are appliedto corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation a desirable embodimentof our invention as employed for the motive power of a tire-engine orsteamer. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of the foregoing with portionsbroken away and illustrating various features of the invention; Figs. 3and 4 are respectively vertical and horizontal cross-1 sectional viewsof our improved wheel construction, the latter having certain of theplan; Fig. 5 is an inner side showing a portion of the wheel and havin aportion of the inner wheel flange bro en away better to show certainfeatures, and Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the oil retaininggrooves.

In Figs. l and 2 is shown a two wheel tractor arrangement the generalfeatures of which comprise a suitable supporting frame 1 upon which iscarried the driving motor 2 shown of four cylinder internal combustiontype having associated therewith the usual radiator 3, carbureter andexhaust 4 and 5, pump 6, generator 7 etc. Upon the engine crank shaft iscarried the usual flywheel and outer clutch member 8 engaged in acustomary manner by an inner clutch member 10 rotatively connected to atransmission drive-shaft 12 having thereon a gear 14 within the usualtransmission case or gear-box 16. From the gear 14 the driving power istransmitted rearwardly to a driving miter gear 17 through a selectivegearing arrangement comprising gears 19, 20, 21 and 22 fixed on acounter shaft 23, a reversing gear 24 and sliding gears 25 and 2Grotatively secured on driven shaft 28 upon which miter gear 17 issecured. The sliding gears 25 and 26 are operated by the rods 29 and 30respectively.

As shown in our improved construction the engine crank-shaft and thetransmission Shafts are in desirable axial alinement and the drivingpower therefrom is communicated through the miter drive gear 17 to theright and left differential shafts 32-33 respectively by the engagementof the miter gear 17 with a similar larger gear 34 on a differentialcasing 36. The driving motion is distributed to the respective shafts 32and 33 through the well known differential gearing within the casing 36.The described shafts 12, 23 and 28 as illustrated have suitable bearingsWithin the transmission case 16.

The differential shafts 3233 as illustrated in Fig. 2 are arrangedcrosswise of the chassis frame 1 and in accordance with our inventionare supported in suitable bearings 38-39 in the crank case and at theirouter ends are supported by additional ball bearings 40 on the frame 1whereby they are rigidly supported against bending strains. The bearings40 comprise the inner and outer ball races 42-43 having therebetweenparts shown in elevational view the bearing balls 44. The outer racebearing is carried 1n a suitable casting 45 bolted to the under part offrame member 1.

The supporting frame carrying the machinery described is resilientlymounted upon the axle 46 by having secured to its under portion theoppositely arranged leaf spring 47-47 resting upon the axle. Suitablyclamped upon the axle at each side is a securing and bearing yoke 48. Asbest shown in Fig. 2 each of these yokes 48 is formed to provideopposite bearings 49 for the wheel drive shafts 50 mounted therein andhaving fixed thereon between the bearings 49, sprocket wheels 51. Thebearings are shown having outer ball races for ball bearings 52interposed between said outer races and inner coacting ball races on thedrive-shafts.

Upon the differential shafts 32-33 are secured the sprocket wheels 54-54in alinement with the drive-shaft sprockets 51 and upon the sprocketsare carried the driving chains 55-55 for transmitting the power to thedrive-shafts. For the purpose of loosening or tightening of the chainsthe yokes 48 are provided with ears 56 to which are pivotally attachedturnbuckle connections 58 pivotally attached at their opposite ends tothe frame 1. Adjustment of the turnbuckle will produce a slight forwardor rearward movement of the axle 46 and the drive-shafts 50 withrelation to the sprockets 54 whereby the chain is tightened or loosenedas desired.

Upon the axle 46 are mounted the imroved traction wheels W of ourinvention which are adapted tobe driven by the respective drive shafts50 and are likewise capable of being turned to direct the course of thevehicle.

The characteristic features of our improved wheel construction are shownin Figs. 3 to 6. As there shown the wheel is composed of an outer rotaryWheel member R and an inner non-rotary wheel member S. The wheel soformed is carried upon a pivotal wheel 'axle member 60 pivotally securedto the axle 46 which has its ends forked in the manner shown to receivethe bearing portion 61 of the axle member 60. The bearing 61 isjournaled upon the pivotal bearing pin 63 so that the axle member 60 andthe wheel carried thereon is enabled to be turned in a horizontal planeabout the pin 63 for steering purposes.

The rotary wheel member R is journaled upon the horizontal spindle oraxle 64 of the member 60, for this purpose having thereon an integralhub fiange 66. Upon the interior of the hub flange, annular bearingrings 67-67' are provided to co-act with suitable annular bearing rings68-68 on the spindle 64, in forming reversely inclined raceways for theroller bearings 7 0 of an approved form. Locking nuts 72 are threaded tothe end of the spindle as shown to retain this outer wheel member inposition on its axle. At. the peripheral part of the rotary wheel memberR is the integral flange 75 or tread portion of the wheel which hassecured thereto by bolts 76 the usual cushion tire or tread 7 7 Theintermediate portion of the rotary wheel member R desirably is of theinclined web construction shown having integrally formed on its innersurface the spokes or reinforcing ribs 78. A cover plate 80 is bolted tothe member R by bolts 81 as4 a protection for the roller bearing.

The inner or stationary wheel member S is secured directly to thepivotal member 60 by means of bolts 84 passed inwardly through themember S and the shoulders 85 integrally formed at the sides of themember 60. Clamping nuts are arranged on the ends of the bolts. As bestshown in Figs. 3 and 5 the inner stationary lwheel member S is formedwith a cylindrical bearing iiange 87 vertically above and in a line withthe pivot pin 63.

The driving of the outer or rotary wheel member R is effected by a drivepinion 88 journaled within the bearing fiange 87, The pinion is shownprovided at each side with flanges for the annular inner ball-races89-89 coacting with outer annular races 90 90 to form raceways for theoppositely arranged ball bearings 92-92. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 5the teeth 94 of the pinion mesh with internal teeth 96 of a largeannular gear 98 secured by bolts 99 to the outer rotary Wheel member Rwhereby the outer member is rotated to propel the vehicle.

The driving force is impartied to the pin- A ion of each wheel from thewheel driveshafts 50 through a universal joint U arranged in verticalalinement with the pivotal pin 63 so that the driving force istransmitted to the pinion 88 in the different positions assumed by it asthe wheel is turned. The universal joint is shown composed of aspherical element 100 provided with grooves in right angular relation towhich are fitted the forks 102-102' respectively. rThe forks 102 areintegral with a squared connecting piece 103 fitted to a correspondingaperture in the pinion 88 whereby they are keyed together and the forks102 desirably may be formed integral with the drive-shafts 50 asdisclosed.

An important feature of our invention resides in the relativepositioning and arrangement of certain of the parts whereby disastrousdisplacement of the parts are insured against. Referring particularly toFig. 3 the pivotal pin 63 will be seen to be formed to provide shoulders104-105 resting upon coacting ledges of the fork of axle 46 and the pinis threaded atv its lowerv end to receive a clamping nut 106 to retainit in position. Thus the pin 63 by its arrangement is prevented fromdropping should its clamping nut become dislodged. An importantfui'tlier precaution against displacement of the pin is furnished by ourimproved construction wherein a portion of the stationary wheel member Sis arranged to overlie the upper end of the pin 63 so that it cannotbecome upwardly displaced into engagement with the moving parts nordislodged from its securing position. Thus the assembling of thestationary memben S upon the axle member 60 positively will lock the pin63 in position.

An additional important feature of the present invention resides in theemployment of an improved arrangement to prevent the undesirable leakageof the lubricant from the wheels. This we have accomplished by theformation of annular wheel member having entering therein annular beadsor tongues on the other of the members. As here shown we have providedfor so checking the leakage of the oil at two points in the wheel,namely at the inner and outer positions indicated at 108 and 109. At thepoint 108 an inwardly extended fiange 110 of the hub 66 is in closeproximity to the face of the stationary member S and at its peripherythe member S is shown with a horizontally extended flange 111 so as toinclose. the gear 96 and the edge of this Harige 111 is in closeproximity to a face of the rotary member R. These opposed faces of themembers R and S at points 108 and 109 are rovided with coacting tonguesand grooves in the manner best shown in Fig. 6 where as shown thegrooves 112 are enlarged so as freely to receive the tongues 113 of theother member. The oil collecting in the grooves, of which three as shownmay desirably be employed, has been found to be particularly effectivein checking the gravitating thereof and its consequent objectionableleaking upon the floor.

The bolts 84 in addition to securing the member S to the axle member 60are arrangedy likewise to secure to the wheel the respective forward andrearward steering arms 115- 116. The turning of the wheels about thepins 63 for steering is effected from the usual steering column 118 bythe operation of steering Wheel 120; the movenient therefrom beingtransmitted from steering arm 122 by reach rod 123 to forward arm 115for turning of the right-hand wheel which is connected by distance rod125, connected to the rear arms 116 of each of the wheels.

Having described our invention We claim,-

1. A traction wheel arrangement of the character described having lapivotal suprooves in one porting member a rotaryy member journaledthereon, a hub flange on the rotary member having its inner end formedwith annular oil collectin grooves, a gear carried by the rotary mem er,a stationary wheel member supported on the pivotal member, a pinionjournaled in the stationary member in driving engagement with the gear,a flange on the stationary member surrounding the gear, and annularbeads on the stationary member arranged freely to enter the annulargrooves of the hub flange.

2. A traction wheel arrangement of the character described having apivotal supporting memberI provided with a spindle portion, a rotarywheel member journaled on the s indle, a hub flange on the rotary memberliaving its inner end provided with annular oil collecting grooves, aninternal gear carried by the rotary member, a stationary wheel membersupported on the pivotal member, a pinion journaled in the stationarymember in driving engagement with the gear, a flange on the stationarymember surrounding the gear, and provided with annular beads at itsedge, said rotary member being formed with annular grooves freely toreceive the beads of the stationary.

member and annular beads on the stationary member arranged freely toenter the grooves of the hub flange.

3. A traction wheel arrangement of the character described comprisin asupporting axle having its end suitaly apertured for the reception of apivot pin; a pivot pin fitted to the aperture, a stationary wheel memberjournaled on the pivot .pin to be capable of movement about said pin in'a horizontal plane'and a rotatable wheel member 'ournaled on thestationary member, said stationary member having a portion thereofarranged to overlie the pivotal pin to prevent its withdrawal.

4. A traction wheel arrangement of the character described comprising asupportin axle having a forked end suitably aperture a verticallyarranged pivot pin fitted to the apertures to rest upon the axle a wheelaxle member journaled on the pin to swing in a horizontal plane, aspindle on the axle member, a rotatable wheel member journaled on the sindle, a gear carried by the rotatable mem er, a stationary wheelmember, a bearing flange on the stationary member and a pinion Journaledin said ange in driving engagement with the gear, said bearing flangebeing arranged to overlie the pivot pin thereby to prevent withdrawal ofthe pin.

5. A traction wheel arrangement of the character described comprising asupportin axle having a forked end suitably apertured to provideshoulders therein, a vertically arranged pivot pin fitted to theapertures and formed to seat upon the shoulders and with 10 with thegear, sai

a threaded lower end, a retaining nut on the lower end, a wheel axlemember journaled on the pin to swing in a horizontal plane, a spindle onthe Iaxle member, a rotatable Wheel member journaled on the spindle, agear carried by the rotatable member, a sta.- tionary Wheel member, abearing flange on the stationary member and a pinion journaled in saidflange in driving engagement bearing flange being arranged to overliethe pivot pin thereby t0 prevent withdrawal of the pin.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE A. SODEN. JOHN W. POWELSON. Witnesses: a

J. O. REAns, WM. MEssEBsCHMmT.

